The transport ship flew steadily in the lower stratosphere of Necromunda, below which stretched endless, grayish-brown pollution clouds, like a filthy blanket covering the planet's tormented surface.
The sensor array on the outside of the hull emits scanning pulses downwards at a fixed frequency according to a preset program, collecting basic environmental data such as geological structure, radiation level, and atmospheric composition.
These data streams silently flow into the onboard cogitator, and after initial processing, are presented on the main console screen in the form of concise charts and numbers.
Osiris' massive mechanical body was fixed to the command seat, maintaining a direct connection with the transport ship's data system.
Most of its processing cores are operating at low power, maintaining only routine monitoring of navigation parameters and environmental data.
This was a routine reconnaissance flight aimed at supplementing and improving the region's database and establishing a more accurate geographic reference system for potential future exploration missions.
Suddenly, a persistent abnormal data stream triggered the alarm threshold.
On the console, a parameter area changes from a stable green to a striking yellow, and at the same time, the related data entries begin to scroll in the high-priority log.
Osiris immediately increased the processing priority of the core.
His optical lens focused on the unusual data—radiation level readings.
It was not the diffuse, fluctuating background radiation commonly found around the hive city, but rather a radiation cloud with relatively clear boundaries and a stable, high intensity.
Its energy characteristics also appear unusual. Spectral analysis shows that it is not produced by the industrial isotope decay common in the Hive City, but rather by the continuous leakage or transformation of some specific energy source.
"Mark the coordinates of the abnormal area." Osiris' synthesized voice rang out in the cabin, breaking the long silence.
"Marked. Coordinates K-7 to L-9." The Thinker onboard responded immediately, highlighting the outline of that area on the navigation star map.
It is located on the edge of a known, vast radioactive desert, but its radiation characteristics differ significantly from those of the surrounding environment.
"Initiate the preliminary analysis procedure. Compare with known radiation source models," Osiris instructed.
Data is flowing rapidly.
The cogitator invokes a database to compare the captured radiation signatures with thousands of known radiation source models stored in the database—including known energy signatures from hive reactor leaks, industrial waste accumulations, weapons test remnants, and even certain alien technologies.
The comparison results were returned quickly: the matching degree was less than 15%.
"The probability of natural formation is assessed at less than 2.3%. The match rate of industrial leak characteristics is less than 8.7%," the Thinker reported the analysis results.
Osiris' mechanical fingers input a series of commands on the control panel: "Eliminate known model interference. Focus on abnormal spectral characteristics for independent analysis."
An independent analysis report was generated quickly.
The report points out that the shape of the radiation cloud was not caused by natural diffusion. Although its edges are blurred, it maintains an inexplicable condensed state as if it were constrained by some force within a certain range.
The radiation intensity in its core region fluctuates very little, exhibiting an unnatural stability.
"The possibility of human intervention or artificial radiation sources has increased to 87.4 percent." Osiris recorded this judgment in his internal log.
This cloud of radiation resembles a giant, unnatural marker, pointing to what might be hidden beneath it.
'What could possibly emit such high-intensity, uniquely characteristic radiation without being recorded by the Imperial or Mechanicus' regular monitoring networks?
Is it some undiscovered ancient ruin? A forgotten disaster site?
Or... some kind of still-operating facility with powerful energy?'
"Adjust flight path and approach the K-8 area. Maintain a safe altitude," Osiris ordered.
The transport boat's engine emitted a subtle power adjustment sound, and the hull tilted slightly as it approached the target area.
As the distance closes, more sensor data is collected.
In addition to radiation, weak, regular energy fluctuations were detected, resembling low-frequency harmonics from the operation of some large equipment, but the signal was extremely weak and masked by strong background radiation noise.
"Initiate the multi-spectral depth scan protocol. Prioritize the penetrating scan bands and focus on the region below the core of the radiation cloud," Osiris issued the crucial instruction.
Conventional scans can only detect the surface; to uncover the truth beneath this veil of radiation, more powerful penetrating scanning methods are needed.
The large scanning array on the belly of the transport ship began to adjust its output mode.
Multiple scanning beams with different frequencies and characteristics are simultaneously excited, like invisible probes, shooting towards the radiation cloud below and the deeper surface of the earth.
Some of these beams are good at analyzing the composition of matter, some can penetrate shields of a certain thickness, and some are exceptionally sensitive to specific energy fields.
The screen on the main control panel began to change.
Under depth scanning, the internal structure of the originally blurry radiation cloud image begins to vaguely appear.
Data shows that the radiation sources are not uniformly distributed, but rather exhibit a certain directionality, as if they come from one or more concentrated point sources.
"A large-scale metallic structure reaction has been detected below," the Thinker reported its initial findings. "The structure's outline... is not naturally formed. It is determined to be an artificial structure."
"The intensity of the energy fluctuation signal increases slightly as the distance increases. The signal source coincides with the location of the metal structure."
"A weak, non-standard communication signal was detected. The signal pattern is encrypted and cannot be deciphered."
Each piece of information was compiled and sent to Osiris' processing center.
A high-intensity, unnatural, and anomalously characterized cloud of radiation; beneath it lies a large-scale artificial metal structure; regular energy fluctuations and encrypted communication signals emanate from within the structure.
These clues, pieced together, point to a clear conclusion: beneath this desolate land lies an active force or facility of unknown technological level, striving to conceal its existence.
Osiris' optical lens was locked on the blurry outline of the huge metal structure that was gradually being drawn out by the depth scan.
Its scale far exceeds that of an ordinary wasteland settlement or small research station. This is no coincidence.
"Record all sensor data and encrypt and archive it with the highest priority," Osiris ordered, while simultaneously planning the next steps.
Simple remote scanning is no longer sufficient to meet intelligence needs.
He needed to observe more closely and understand the nature, technological level, and defensive capabilities of this hidden force.
The transport ship continued to circle at a safe altitude, conducting multi-spectral depth scans in an attempt to uncover more secrets from the radiation fog and metal barrier.
The journey to find "Ronker Town" and STC has entered a substantial phase thanks to this unexpected discovery.